The “Entre Limagne et Combrailles” hiking route starts at the “Les Girauds” green space in Saint-Agoulin and is accessible every day throughout the year. In addition to enjoying nature, visitors with different interests can explore the church, the château and seasonal direct sales. This way, you can get to know the area through its hiking route, architectural history and agricultural surroundings.

Hiking through different landscapes

“Entre Limagne et Combrailles” is a circular route marked in yellow. Along the hike, there are views of the Chaîne des Puys over several kilometres. There are also views of the Massif du Sancy, Livradois-Forez and the Monts de la Madeleine. This gives the trail several named landscape features, making panoramic views a clear focus of the route. If you are primarily looking for a hike with views for your trip, this route is a concrete starting point for your planning.

Church and local history

The first known mention of Saint-Agoulin dates back to the 11th century. The church was rebuilt in 1874 in the Neo-Gothic style, based on plans by Imberdis, an architect from Clermont. Its layout comprises a single-nave church with two bays, a porch with a gallery, a projecting transept and a five-sided polygonal apse. The two bays divide the nave into sections. The transept projects beyond the nave, while the five-sided apse forms the end of the building. These specific features of the floor plan complement the church’s classification as Neo-Gothic architecture.

Open agricultural countryside and road connections

Saint-Agoulin has an open landscape divided into large parcels. The higher-lying areas are generally used as pasture, while the basin areas are used for growing cereals; there are also a few grazing areas. This division by location and use gives the surroundings an agricultural character, adding another way to appreciate the area as you hike.

The road network also provides useful landmarks. The D22 runs through the commune from north to south, connecting Gannat with Artonne. The D12 connects Saint-Agoulin with Aigueperse, Champs and Ebreuil. On a map, you can trace the D22 through the commune and locate the places connected to Saint-Agoulin by the D12.

Guesthouse and local offerings

In January 2026, the Château de Saint-Agoulin served as a guesthouse. The current building consists of a tourelle, or small tower, and a rear wing. These features give the château its own architectural profile alongside the church’s floor plan.

The Poney Club des Écuries du Parc is located in the park of the Château de Saint-Agoulin, on a continuous 30-hectare site. If you plan to include the club in your itinerary, check before your trip which activities are available on your dates.

Le jardin de Machal sells seasonal fruit and vegetables directly from the farm, as well as products from other farmers. Because the selection depends on the season and direct-sale offerings can change, check which products are currently available before you visit. This will help you plan a more targeted purchase on site and combine it with your other travel interests.

Discover more destinations: La Celle, Thuret, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Chastel, Royat, Sauret-Besserve, Maringues, Sayat, Égliseneuve-près-Billom

For the main travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.